Sixers Can't Run On Empty Against Pistons
The 76ers will be distributing 20,000 t-shirts for fans at tonight's Game 3 with the Detroit Pistons that say "Run with us." Now the question is whether the Detroit Pistons will allow the runnning to occur?
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Sixers Can't Run On Empty Against Pistons
The 76ers will be distributing 20,000 t-shirts for fans at tonight's Game 3 with the Detroit Pistons that say "Run with us." Now the question is whether the Detroit Pistons will allow the runnning to occur?
The Pistons ability to shut down the Sixers transition game was one of the reasons they won so handily on Wednesday, 105-88. The Sixers had just one fastbreak point in the first half, when they trailed by 17 points.
The Sixers were forcing one shot after another and never got into an offensive rhythm.
Coach Maurice Cheeks has emphasized the importance of getting easy baskets in transition. Yet Detroit rarely allows easy baskets. In the opening 90-86 win, the Sixers earned 16 fastbreak points. For a Pistons team that allowed 9.6 fastbreak points per game during the regular season, that was good production for the Sixers.
Without those easy baskets, Andre Iguodala has been struggling, relying too much on his jumper. He has had to shoot the jumper over the long-armed Tayshaun Prince and the results haven't been pleasant. Iguodala is shooting 5 for 24 and he remains the key in this series. Yes, the Pistons did a good job of slowing down Andre Miller with a variety of traps in Game 2, but the biggest key is for Iguodala to get untracked on offense.
Now the Sixers have to adjust, which means Iguodala could be handling the ball more in the open court. And if he could get a few easy baskets early in transition, that would give the Sixers some needed momentum.
Cheeks preached before the postseason that it would be more difficult to get in the running game in the playoffs, but he said the Sixers wouldn't be backing off.
So the Sixers will continue to try to run because the option of attempting to win while primarily executing their half-court offense, isn't the best way to go about beating the Pistons.
The Sixers have had time to look at the tapes and so has detroit. Unfortunately, personnel wise Detroit has the advantage. Prince negates Iggy. Sheed's perimeter game has opened up the lane for the Piston wings. Forget X's & O's. Need Transition opportunities AND I think the home court has to come into play to create a very hostile environment tonight. We need a subpar performance by the Pistons and above average performance by the Sixers. That can definitely happen when the fans generate that positive energy tonight! Go Sixers!— sfw- Hugh and Morty, if Reggie and Sam are out there together we need them to attempt to score. Sheed is challenging every shot because he sits back off of Sam. Sam from the foul line area is as good an option as any of our other starters as far as jumpshots. We have to make Sheed defend and take away some of his energy from the offensive end. I also think A.Miller will play off the ball tonight with Iggy handling to change things up. Go Sixers !!!!— seude
- Guys, Rashard Lewis is the third option on his team and gets 17 million per; when we get our 4 next year Iggy will become our third optoion behind [Brand/ Jamison] and either Thad or A.Miller. A 12 TO 15 mill. deal is probably not out of the question, what do you guys think?— seude
- Lame, the same starting lineup as usual, freakin' lame, please, let us not go down by 10 early, please...— sixerzguy
- A missed jumper by #9... Iggy, dont' force the freakin' issue!!! You suck right now, come on, don't kill us again!— sixerzguy
- How many times does Rip have to shoot over Willie before Mo realizes it's a mismatch? Willie Green, out NOW!!— sixerzguy
- Jason, push back, you wuss! Come on!!!— sixerzguy
- I 'm liking Carney's rebounding... keep it up, top it off with a couple threes, alright?— sixerzguy
- yo...I'm loving Reggie right now...fadeaways in the paint? Steals? Bring it on big man!!! And yea, Iggy's forcing the crappy jumpers again...what else is new. Stay positive...stay positive.— Mercurial41
- Change that...Iggy is absolutely killing me...not playing defense and not scoring??? Tayshaun Prince is making him look really bad right now...but Sammy D with the nice fifteen footer on the baseline and the strong jump hook move, surprised me a bit i know.— Mercurial41
- Richard Hamilton also going off...I think 16 at the half...need someone like Carney to keep him under wraps a bit...— Mercurial41
- Second Half starting line-up should be: Miller, Evans, Dalembert, Thad and Carney. I would say Lou but I like Carney's size better AND we need some scoring off the bench because we know Iggy is playing like a scrub and shows no signs of improving. His minutes should be limited in the second half.— ReclinerGM
- That's the way to start a 2nd half boys!— ReclinerGM
- Sammy's jumper is looking better than Iguodala's right now, lmao— Mercurial41
- Mercurial - you are exactly right. Sammy's jumper looks great tonight. At least someone who didn't play well brought their A-game.— ReclinerGM
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
